Method of reducing wood



NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'l. J. CANTELO, Ol" IHILADELIHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF REDUCING WOOD, &C., TO SAWDUST OR FINER GRAINS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,614, dated July 5, 1859.

To all whom it 'may concern:

Be it. known that I, lW. J. CANTELO, of Burlington, Burlington county, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Im proved Mode of Reducing Solid Substances to Powder; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon. i

My invention relates to an improved mode of reducing` to powder a class of substances, which, on account of their peculiar nature and consistency, cannot be eiectually operated upon by the usual grinding mills; and my improved mode consists in placing the ends of blocks of such materials opposite to and ,in Contact with each other, and presenting them, simultaneously and at the point of junction, to the action of a circular or .reciprocating saw, with the aid of the appliances herein described or their equivalents, so that the saw may cut or rasp off an equal portion from each block, with as little injury to the saw as though a whole block were presented to its edge.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe the manner in which I carry it into effect.

On reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification; Figure l, is a sectional view of a machine for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2, an end view, looking in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1. Fig. 3, a ground plan.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

An ordinary circular saw A is secured to a spindle B, which turns in suitable boxes c and a attached to the opposite edges of a platform C, the latter being supported on and secured to any suitable frame D. 4

On each edge of the platform a guide e is secured, and between these guides a box or frame E .is so fitted, as to slide t'reely in a line parallel with the plane of the saw, without having any lateral motion. A slot f .is cut into the box E, and this slot coincides with that in the platform, in which the saw revolves freely.

In order to counteract the weakness of the box, caused by its slot, two curved ribs 7L and 71. are secured to the back of the box, and in the latter is a longitudinal opening, for admitting the ends z' of the slides G, which fit .into the box, and the positions of which within the same are controlled by a screw I-I, which turns in boxes m, m, secured to the back and at the opposite ends of the box. One half of this screw, which passes through and is adapted to the projection i of one of the slides G, has right handed threads and the other half, which is adapted to the projection e of the other slide, has left handed threads, so that, on turning the screw in one direction, the slides G will approach each other simultaneously, and, on turning it in an opposite direction, will si multaneously recede from each other.

It should be understood, that the materials, to the reduction of which my invention relates, are either of such a glutinous, brous, or, in other respects, tough nature, as to prohibit the use of ordinary grinding mills. Among the number of such substances may be mentioned the animal matter, which is the residue after the process of boiling tallow, and which is generally compressed into cakes, in which state it is commonly termed graves or crackling. The powder of this substance is extremely valuable for farm purposes, both as a manure and as food for fowls, pigs, &c.

My invention is equally applicable to the reduction of gutta percha, and even of scraps of leather temporarily cemented into masses, powdered leather being now extensively used, in conjunction with other substances, for many manufacturing purposes.

My invention is also serviceable, as a more economical mode of rasping dyewoods, so as to reduce them to the proper degree of fineness, than the cumbrous and costly apparatus now used.

It is well known, that, in attempting to reduce, by means of a saw, the end of a piece of wood or other substance to the width or less than the width of the saw, the latter becomes strained and so rapidly deteriorated as to be rendered unfit for use in a very short time. Hence the adoption of the above described arrangement, the operation of which is as follows: The slides G being moved to their respective ends of the box by turning the screws H, the block to be reduced is placed within the box, and the screw turned until the block is confined between the opposite slides G. rI`he box E with its appendages, is then pushed forward, and the block severed by the saw. After the box has been drawn back clear of the saw, the screw H is again turned to an extent sufficient to bring the severedy ends `of the block in close contact with each other, when the boX is again pushed forward, and the material acted upon by the saw as before, and this is continued until the whole of the block has' been reduced by the teeth of the saw, the powder having, during the operation, passed down the shoot J to the ground. Now it will be observed, that, when the severed ends of the block are brought together after each cut, the point of Contact must invariably be in line, midway between and parallel to the opposite sides of the saw. Not only, therefore,

does the latter act as though cutting through an undivided block, but each severed half of the block furnishes its separate quota of powder, rasped or rather cut off by the saw.

I do not desire to confine myself to the precise construction or arrangement of the appliances herein described, for causing the two halves of the severed blocks to meet each cating saw, with the aid of the appliances herein described, or any equivalent to the same.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Y W. J. CANTELO.

Witnesses:

HENRY HowsoN, HENRY ODIORNE. 

